Friends reach £3m milestone for St Cross

ST CROSS Hospital is in rude health thanks to £3 million of care from its most dedicated supporters.

Fund-raising stalwarts the Friends of the Hospital of St Cross are celebrating reaching the landmark total in donations since forming in 1955.

Started as the League of Friends 58 years ago to support the Barby Road hospital, the group had a small income and just a handful of volunteers focused on helping wherever and however they could.

Today, it is responsible for paying for and donating state-of-the-art equipment including its latest offering, two bladder scanners worth £15,000.

Added to that, around 200 volunteers from the group are on hand to provide regular services for free including manning the outpatient tea bar and help desks, and helping out with feeding patients and the speech and language therapy service.

The Friends of St Cross Hospital raises around £100,000 a year through collections, a raffle, donations, the tea bar and a special savers account operated by The Coventry building society.

Chair Heather Green said: "This is a wonderful achievement and we are delighted to be able to donate yet more state-of-the-art equipment to our hospital.

"Over the years we have supported just about every department in the hospital and we regularly meet requests at our monthly meetings ranging from small items to the high tech scanners we are handing over now.

"We can only do that because of the terrific support we get from people whose donations and bequests make it possible for us to do so much. We know our support really does make a difference and that St Cross has the very best equipment as a result.

"When the old League of Friends was first formed in 1955 it had only a small income and focused more on amenities. Those early founders would hardly recognise the modern Friends and the equipment we are asked for and can provide.

"I would like to pay a big tribute to those early pioneers who can hardly have realised what they we starting. It is a real pleasure for me to work with such a dedicated bunch of volunteers now who not only raise so much money but also provide so many voluntary services at the hospital."

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